Grave Doubts (A Paranormal Mystery Novel) by LYNN BOHART Read Free Book Online

her friend.
    “ At least we
know when the seasons change up here,” Diane would reply in her deep Lauren
Bacall voice. “In California, the only way anyone knows the season has
changed is when Wal-Mart revamps its store display. ”
    Despite Diane’s
obsessive attention to detail, Lee missed her. She missed the quirky mannerisms
that accentuated her extreme moods and the carefully chosen words delivered in
carefully crafted phrases to make a point only Diane cared about. It was all
the things others disliked about Diane that Lee had grown to understand and appreciate.
Diane had been a pain in the ass − picky, obstinate, even
small-minded at times. Yet, Lee had been able to ignore that. Underneath all of
her obsessive and irritating traits, Diane had also been one of the most
generous people Lee had ever known. More than that, Diane had found something
worthy of friendship in Lee. “A glimmer of hope ,” Diane used to call it.
And for that, Lee would be forever grateful.
    Lee swallowed
to relieve the lump in her throat as she climbed into the car. She backed out
of the driveway, making a crisp right turn onto Alder Drive. She noticed the
tan sedan that had cut her off earlier that day was parked across the street
with its motor running, the exhaust sending plumes of gray smoke into the cool
night air. As she passed, Lee glanced into the driver’s side window and was
startled when a pale, ghostly face floated into view staring at her, its
identity obscured by water streaming down the glass. The disembodied image gave
her a sudden chill, and she pressed down on the accelerator. The Pathfinder
jumped ahead, and the sedan flicked on its headlights. A moment later, Lee saw
it pull away from the curb, going in the opposite direction.
    Lee hit the freeway
on-ramp now anxious to be with her friends. It took her only a few minutes to
cross over the Willamette River into Springfield, a small neighboring community
where her hospital was located. Red-tipped smokestacks from the Weyerhaeuser
paper plant billowed drafts of white steam against the blue shadowed Cascade
Mountains that rimmed the valley. Although many high tech companies had moved
into the Willamette Valley, there was still plenty of evidence the timber
industry owned this part of the Northwest.
    Lee exited the
freeway and followed Marcola Road north to the open countryside. The rain was
moving south, leaving behind patches of stars peeking out from behind a bank of
clouds that threatened to overtake the moon. Lee sped on, crossing the Little
Mohawk River before passing the golf course on her right.
    Alan and Robin
lived on five acres where they kept two horses, a goat, and a few chickens. At
well over six feet tall, Alan was a bear of a man and an imposing figure. He’d
served on the Eugene police force for twelve years and earned a reputation for
being a no-nonsense kind of guy. Yet, he also had a gentle side that Lee found
intriguing. While Robin owned the horses and loved to trail ride up in the
hills, Alan owned two rabbits, which lived in the garage and were often allowed
into the house.
    Robin greeted
Lee at the door dressed in black muslin pants and an Asian print tunic top. Her
thick black hair was cut to her shoulders and bounced back and forth when she
walked. She led Lee into the kitchen where Alan was just removing a Mexican
casserole dish from the oven. The strong scent of cheese and onions made Lee realize
she hadn’t eaten all day.
    “I hope you’re
hungry,” he smiled. Dressed casually in brown pants and a long-sleeved brown
shirt, he looked a little like a giant teddy bear.
    “I’m starving,
and I brought the wine,” she announced, producing a bottle from her leather
bag.
    “Terrific,” Robin
exclaimed as she grabbed a corkscrew. She poured the wine and handed a glass
and an envelope to Lee.
    “Happy
birthday, Lee. I’d sing, but Alan said he’d divorce me if I did.”
    Alan turned
from the counter where he had just placed the casserole.